Young dancers from the American Indian Center
Cabin fever comes early when the temperature nears single digits. So on Sunday, January 3, Ageless went to the Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston for the first of four free Music Institute of Chicago programs in the series, “Paving the Way to America’s Cultural Identity.”
We were not alone. More than 250 people shared the conversation, photography, music, drumming, dancing and film that made up the event called At the Core of Discovery: Lewis, Clark, and the Native American Encounter
In the lobby, Chris Walker, Chicago Tribune photographer exhibited photographs from his 
series On the Trail of Lewis and Clark. Walker retraced the journey of Lewis and Clark and captioned each photograph with an entry from their journals .
The effect can be moving, beautiful, chilling and ironic. A McDonald’s sign glows in the pre-dawn light at the town of Hood River, Oregon, on the Columbia river.
The caption from Clark’s journal, “Sent two men on a head with directions to proceed near the Sea Coast and kill something for brackfast.” November 19, 1805
Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune senior writer, WGN host and author, led a discussion with John Low and Chris Walker about the immediate and lasting impact of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Low, Visiting Assistant Professor of American Indian Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is an enrolled member of the Pokagon Band of Potawatami Indians and has served on the tribal council.
Chris Walker and John Low
Low contends that Lewis and Clark could not have imagined the loss of the indigenous populations that followed their expedition. Low believes that the purpose of the expedition was exploration and not exploitation. President Jefferson stressed to Lewis and Clark that they should avoid confrontation with the native peoples.
On the other hand, Low said Andrew Jackson who made a career of Indian removal from tribal lands is despised by many in Low’s tribe. So much so that tribal members are loathe to handle a $20 bill because Jackson’s picture is on it. And they never name their children Andrew or Jackson.
Walker’s journey has taken him to forest and wildlife management programs. These attempts to recover from our past mistakes, miscalculations, and ignorance, fills Walker with hope. He quoted one of Meriwether Lewis’ oft-used phrases “We proceeded on.”
Following the discussion, there were three inspired musical performances.
Kay Kim played the short piano solo piece, Navajo War Dance No.2 by Arthur Farwell (1872-1952). This composition is associated with the “Indianist” movement of the 19th century. Using the rhythms and musical intervals of the Indian chant, this movement’s goal was to create an authentically American voice by blending the cultural heritage of the New World into European musical styles.
Meret Fon-Revutzky plays Native American Flute
The Piano Concerto No.2 “After Lewis and Clark” Sacagawea by Phillip Glass features the minimalism, repetition and brooding style of the composer. A traditional Shoshone musical theme is traded between the Native American Flute and piano. As the movement ends the percussionist recreates the sounds of distant thunder on his kettle drum.
Big Sky Singers
The four “Big Sky Singers” surrounded their drum and sang traditional songs from the region of Montana. Although from different tribes, they are united in the belief that “the drum is the heart beat of mother earth and singers put voice and beauty to the beat so the people can dance and celebrate.”
That feeling became reality when members of the audience joined dancers from the American Indian Center for a concluding friendship dance. The two young Indian dancers and Cindy Star from American Indian Center lead children and adults (including John Low) in a joyous, circle dance.
At 6:30, Summer Sun Winter Moon was screened.
The documentary followed Composer Rob Kapilow and Blackfoot poet, Darrell Robes Kipp as they composed a symphony from the American Indian perspective of Lewis and Clark’s legendary “Corps of Discovery” mission.
*Made possible by Illume Productions
Future events will have a similar format. An interview/discussion led by Rich Kogan, a musical program and a film all exploring the same themes and threads of history.
As Chris Walker said during the program, “History is not what happened. History is what we remember and what we forget.”
January 10, 2010, 4:00 PM
From the Oregon Trail to Route 66: The Lure of the American West
January 17, 2010, 4:00 PM
In Tune with the African-American Experience
January 24, 2010, 4:00 PM
Making Tracks: From the Far East to the American West
Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston: The events are free and no tickets are required.
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